Media Aesthetics Pavi

8/3/2019 Media Aesthetics Pavi

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JAYAPAVITHRA C.B

0909113

MEDIA AESTHETICS

LIGHTING AND

COLOUR



LIGHTING



SNAPSHOT 1

In this film, CASABLANCA directed by Michael Curtiz (1942) , cast shadows are used

extensively . Shadows Help clarify and intensify the specific shape and texture of people

and things . A cast shadow may connect with the object (object-connected) that causes

it or be totally free of it (object disconnected). Here the Director has aptly positioned a

lamp in the background throwing a cast shadow oddly . The shadow not only breaks the

monotony of the pale wall but also adds drama visually . It creates a mysterious mood

when the characters are talking and adds a tone of secrecy to the scene .



SNAPSHOT 2

In this snapshot , again cast shadows are used in a different manner . Rick ‘s

Lighting helps create Rick s character into a powerful one and is illustrated in

the scene where Rick is retrieving cash from the safe .However you can see his

shadow cast on a wall. Captain Renault, a police prefect, stands respectfully at

the doorway, behind his shadow. As we can only see Rick’s shadow it creates

mystery about him and we wait as the safe door slowly swings open to reveal a

silhouette counting large sums of money.



SNAPSHOT 3

Here is another snapshot, where lighting emphasizes the scene dramatically. The

background is casted with shadows of the leaves and the Police chief, standing erect.

This creates suspense to this scene where Ilsa along with her husband are talking to a

stranger; the audience is later introduced with whom that person is. Hence lighting adds

mystery and suspense here, in the form of shadows.



SNAPSHOT 4

In this shot, a flashback scene in the film (Paris), instead of showing the name of the cafe

it was showed in the form of shadows in a bright light and emphasises happiness and

liveliness .



SNAPSHOT 5

Silhouette Lighting is a Hybrid between Chiaroscuro and Flat lighting. Both these shots,

the first one from the movie Killbill , it is the silhouette of the lead protagonist and

appears during the beginning of the film credits . It creates a mysterious aura around

her and we look forward to what follows her in the movie .Usually silhouette lighting is

done against a bright background, but here it is done against a flat background in a

black and white mode to emphasize that all is not right.



SNAPSHOT 6

In the second picture from the movie Pudupettai , silhouette lighting is used when the

lead actor is a confused state of what to do , and it is pictured dramatically , like the sun

rising , meaning awakening .



SNAPSHOT 7

All these shots are from the film Casablanca, In the first shot, light is placed above eye

level and hence creates a normalcy and conveys a happy mood. This shot is from the

flashback of Rick s romance and the only part of the film where attached shadows are in

a normal and expected position.

The latter two snapshots are from the present of Rick s life in the cafe, Key light is

placed below the eye level of a person or object. Thus lighting reverses the attached

shadows and puts them in an abnormal position throwing odd shadows and on the

whole creating a dull and mysterious mood.



SNAPSHOT 8

In the film , Casablanca , Chiaroscuro Lighting is used extensively throughout the film

.Chiaroscuro Lighting means lighting for fast-falloff and for light dark contrast. It

indirectly creates volume and gives drama to a scene. These shots affect our feelings

directly and determine a dominant mood and reflect emotions such as depression , loss

of power , fear , mystery in the film .



SNAPSHOT 9

In the movie, The prestige, The funeral shot uses flat lighting. It has slow falloff and

highly transparent shadows that are almost not visible, thus conveying isolation and

detachment in this shot.



COLOUR



SNAPSHOT 10

These two snapshots are from the film , Legally Blonde . In this the lead protagonist wears only

Bright pink and warm colours like red ,purple etc . This makes us predict about her

character , she is soft ,gentle , kind , lovable and cute , as we normally associate pink

with all these attributes .



SNAPSHOT 11

This shot is taken from the film, The Time Travellers wife. This shot is an example of

warm colour, red, used in a landscape. Hence Red catches our attention. The scenes

Where the Lead actor talks to the small girl, is usually bright conveying happiness whencompared to the other parts of the film which is less saturated .



SNAPSHOT 12

The film 7g Rainbow colony, Sonia agarwal wears mostly white and shades of white. In

the Indian culture white can be associated with surrender and death. Firstly she

surrenders herself in love to Kadir, then at the end of the film, when she offers her toKadir , she wears white again conveying the same meaning. When she is hit by the lorry,

she wears white again depicting death.



SNAPSHOT 13

In the movie Killbill, Part 2 , The lead protagonist shares her flashback , which was kept

in mystery sparing a few details . In part 2 the film starts in a de saturated tone (black

and white) and stresses the importance of this part as the viewers had not expected a de

saturated tone and thus adds drama and importance in the film .



SNAPSHOT 14

In the film, A nightmare on elm street , this particular shot of small girls , which is

saturated in a lighter shade of white is used whenever something unexpected is to

happen . Thus this attribute adds drama and gives information of what to perceive.



SNAPSHOT 15

In the film , a Nightmare on elm street , Red colour is used extensively to depict danger .

So when we see red , we are able to predict that the character is in danger caught in

different situations .





SNAPSHOT 16

In the film Trainspotting, a lot of red colour is used in shots involving drugs depicting

enthusiasm and Stimulation of energy, aggression . In some shots depicting love and lust

.Thus colour red displays emotion and adds to the drama.





SNAPSHOT 17

This snapshot is from the film, What happened in Vegas. Clearly as seen this snapshot is

highly saturated with bright colours displaying high energy and excitement.

Date post:	06-Apr-2018
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